Beijing has strongly criticised Washington’s steep tariffs on India, with the Chinese ambassador in Delhi, Xu Feihong, calling the US a “bully” and urging stronger co-operation between India and China.
Speaking in the Indian capital on Thursday, Xu said the US had long enjoyed the benefits of free trade but was now weaponising tariffs as a bargaining chip. “The US has imposed tariffs of up to 50% on India and even threatened more. China firmly opposes it. Silence only emboldens the bully,” he remarked.
Earlier this month, Donald Trump slapped a 25% penalty on India, in addition to an existing 25% tariff, over its purchases of oil and weapons from Russia. The new rates will kick in on August 27.
India’s rising imports of cheap Russian crude since the Ukraine war have already caused friction with Washington, slowing down trade deal talks. Delhi has defended its position, arguing it needs affordable energy to protect millions of poor citizens from soaring costs. Indian officials have also pointed out that the Biden administration itself once encouraged Delhi to buy Russian oil to help stabilise global energy markets.
Against this backdrop of strained India-US ties, relations between Delhi and Beijing appear to be warming. The two neighbours have been working to repair their relationship after the violent 2020 Galwan clashes in Ladakh.
Just this week, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Delhi for two days, stressing that India and China should see each other as “partners” rather than “adversaries or threats.” Xu echoed the same message on Thursday, calling the two countries “double engines” of Asia’s economic growth and saying their unity would benefit the world.
The envoy also invited Indian businesses to invest more in China, while urging India to ensure a “fair, just and non-discriminatory” environment for Chinese companies operating here.
“Right now, tariff wars and trade wars are disrupting the global system. Power politics and the law of the jungle are prevailing, and international rules have suffered severe impacts,” Xu said, in a clear reference to Washington’s trade policies.
He added that China would “firmly stand with India” in defending the multilateral trading system led by the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
Xu also expressed hope that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit would give “new impetus” to India-China ties.
